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Five Possible Paths for Nicholas Hwende After Making BRAVE CF History
Jun 08, 2026
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One week ago, Nicholas ‘The Saint’ Hwende etched his name into BRAVE Combat Federation history. At BRAVE CF 105 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Zimbabwean superstar submitted Omar Solomanov in the fifth round to become the Undisputed BRAVE CF Featherweight World Champion. In doing so, Hwende became just the second fighter in the promotion’s history to capture world titles in two different weight classes.
For many fighters, reaching such a milestone would mark the pinnacle of their career. For Hwende, however, it may simply be the beginning of his most audacious era yet. The former bantamweight king has looked rejuvenated since moving to featherweight, repeatedly speaking about the benefits of competing without the brutal weight cuts that once accompanied life at bantamweight. Now, with championship gold wrapped around his waist once again, ‘The Saint’ finds himself in a unique position.
From title defenses and old rivalries to historic superfights and even a potential new division to conquer, the possibilities are seemingly endless. As the dust settles on BRAVE CF 105, here are five potential paths forward for one of Africa's greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
Rauan Bekbolat: The Number-One Contender Waiting In The Wings
Rauan Bekbolat may have the strongest case of all when it comes to potential challengers. Kazakhstan’s contender has long been one of the featherweight division's most dangerous competitors. Prior to his interim title challenge against Solomanov, Bekbolat had put together an impressive six-fight winning streak, showcasing his well-rounded skill set and finishing ability along the way.
At BRAVE CF 105, he reminded everyone exactly why he remains such a threat by submitting Sardor Khudoyberdiev with a first-round triangle choke in front of his home crowd. Following Hwende's championship victory later that evening, the two men squared off inside the BRAVE CF cage, immediately igniting speculation about an imminent title fight.
Omar Solomanov II: A Rivalry Worth Revisiting?
When Hwende and Omar Solomanov stepped into the cage at BRAVE CF 105, gold was on the line. The Ukrainian had earned interim champion status by defeating Rauan Bekbolat at BRAVE CF 98 and entered the bout carrying significant momentum. While Hwende ultimately emerged victorious with a fifth-round Brabo Choke submission, championship rivalries like this tend to end up warranting a repeat of sort.
Solomanov remains one of the most accomplished featherweights in BRAVE CF and has already proven that he belongs among the division's elite. Former champions rarely stay away from the title picture for too long, and another impressive performance could quickly place him back in contention. The only question is: Would Hwende be willing to grant Solomanov a rematch, or will the other possibilities be too enticing to choose otherwise?
Nemat Abdrashitov: The Champion Who Never Lost The Belt
If there is one matchup capable of immediately capturing the attention of the global MMA community, it may be a showdown between Nicholas Hwende and former BRAVE CF Featherweight World Champion Nemat Abdrashitov. The Kyrgyzstan standout captured the title at BRAVE CF 72 and established himself as one of the division's defining figures. Yet, despite no longer holding the title, Abdrashitov never lost the championship inside the cage.
That fact alone creates a fascinating storyline. Hwende may be the reigning champion today, but a victory over the last undisputed titleholder would remove any remaining questions surrounding the featherweight hierarchy. It would be a clash between the division's present and its recent past, with the winner earning undeniable bragging rights as the true king of the promotion’s 145-pound division.
A Move To Lightweight: Could History Be Made Again?
Perhaps the most intriguing possibility of all lies one division above. Immediately after becoming the Undisputed BRAVE CF Featherweight World Champion, Hwende began joking about the idea of moving up to lightweight. But what if he was only half-joking?
The Zimbabwean has already made history by becoming just the second fighter in BRAVE CF history to win championships in two different weight classes. A successful move to lightweight would give him the opportunity to pursue something no other BRAVE CF fighter has ever accomplished before: becoming a world champion in three divisions.
Standing at the top of the division are Undisputed Lightweight Champion Abdysalam Kubanychbeck and Interim Lightweight Champion Raul Tutarauli. Beyond them sits one of the deepest talent pools in the entire promotion, featuring names such as Ramazan Gitinov and Owais Yaqoobi.
The lightweight division may be the promotion’s most competitive weight class, but that challenge could be exactly what appeals to a champion who has built his reputation on defying expectations. With Hwende looking increasingly comfortable as he moves away from difficult weight cuts, the prospect of seeing him compete at 155 pounds is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Borislav Nikoli? II: The Ultimate Revenge Story
Every great champion has a fight that lingers in the back of their mind. For Nicholas Hwende, that may be Borislav Nikoli?.
At BRAVE CF 96, the Serbian stunned the MMA world when he submitted Hwende with a fourth-round Ninja Choke to capture the BRAVE CF Bantamweight World Championship. The result ended Hwende's reign at 135 pounds and remains one of the most significant victories of Nikoli?'s career.
Since then, Hwende has reinvented himself at featherweight and reclaimed championship status in spectacular fashion. Nikoli? remains the reigning bantamweight champion and one of the very few men in the world to hold a victory over ‘The Saint’.
Should Hwende ever decide to revisit the division where he first became champion, there is little doubt who would be standing across from him. A champion-versus-champion showdown between two of BRAVE CF's biggest stars would undoubtedly rank among the most compelling fights the promotion could ever make. And for Hwende, it would offer something no championship title can provide: revenge.
The Saint Holds All The Cards
Few fighters in BRAVE CF history have found themselves in a position quite like Nicholas Hwende. He is a former bantamweight champion, the current featherweight champion, and one of the faces of African mixed martial arts.
Whether he chooses to defend his title against a rising contender, settle unfinished business with a former rival, challenge a former champion, or pursue unprecedented greatness at lightweight, every option carries enormous significance.
The conversation surrounding Nicholas Hwende is no longer about whether he belongs among BRAVE Combat Federation’s elite. The only question now is which chapter of his remarkable story comes next. Either way, ‘The Saint’ holds all the cards.
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